I’d love to start today with some thoughts on the Lancers’ fine program to connect with area youth, putting their players in classrooms around Rochester talking about how kids need to “Eat Right, Treat Right” (nutrition/bullying), and I will later on in this post, but since we’re a news organization, I’ll start with some thoughts on the news, which is Neal Kitson’s pending departure to Northampton Town Football Club in England’s fourth division. It’s a league that is probably similar in quality to America’s minor leagues but it puts Kitson in front of some of the big coaches on that side of the pond and THAT is where they scout for players, not the USL, so … he’ll have a better chance to get into England’s bigger leagues by being there and not here. Being a pro in England, you see, is all Kitson has ever wanted to be. His parents are from England. He has followed English soccer his whole life. He spent some time with Sheffield Wednesday. So, this is big for Neal. Good for him. I think he’ll do well and could one day end up with a big-time club. And, credit him for thanking former Rhinos coach Bob Lilley for helping in his development. They didn’t always see eye to eye. Lilley was really tough on Kitson in his first two years as a pro, but Lilley believed in Kitson very early on. Kitson, you recall, all but wrested away the Rhinos’ goalie job from veteran Scott Vallow in 2010. Lilley knew Vallow was an important player to the franchise, wanted Scott to still be “The Man,” but he also knew winning was the most important thing and thought over the second half of 2010 Kitson gave the Rhinos a better chance to win – so he went with him. And while new Rhinos coach Jesse Myers and team president Pat Ercoli knew Kitson was going to try out in England this winter and knew this was a possibility, they have every right to be a tad annoyed. Why? Because I think with Kitson, Troy Roberts, Tyler Bellamy and Jack Traynor they knew the Rhinos already had in place a championship-caliber defense for this season. So, Myers’ comments about this not being “difficult” for Rochester to find a replacement for Kitson, one that is “of the same quality, or better,” certainly had a tone to them.

But now we get to see what Myers, who has been billed as a great recruiter and a man with one of the best networks for players in North America, can do. The fact that there is no shortage of goalies in this country is also helpful. Kitson needs international clearance for this to be a done deal, but it should go through.

Lancers defender Kyle Manscuk talking to a classroom full of children recently.

LANCERS REACHING OUT: Lancers vice president Rich Randall is doing a great job getting the team’s players out in the community. The team estimates that his programs will help the Lancers reach 10,000 kids. Will they all come to games? Obviously not, but it’s a good plan and this is the type of grassroots interaction you need to build a fanbase. But it takes time. These are how you plant seeds and keep doing it so they grow. By the way, the Lancers play at MISL Eastern Division leader Baltimore on Saturday and Norfolk on Sunday and we’ll be talking about that on Kick This! at 11 a.m. on WHTK-AM/FM. Hope you tune in.

SYRACUSE GETS SMOKED: Did you catch the score of Syracuse’s game on Wednesday night at Missouri? The Comets crushed the Silver Knights, 33-12, dealing Syracuse (6-11) another major body blow in its effort to catch the Lancers (7-9) for the second playoff spot in the Eastern Division. Syracuse is now 1.5 games behind Rochester. It has seven games left; the Lancers have eight.

BIG DAY FOR U.S. WOMEN: The United States women can clinch a berth in the Olympics by beating Costa Rica tonight at 8. It’s on the Universal Sports Network and can be seen live at www.universalsports.com. Click here for all the details. Canada and Mexico meet in the other semifinal with an Olympic spot at stake.

Although Neal Kitson was born and raised in New York City, his parents grew up in England and it’s where he always has wanted to be called a professional “footballer.” That dream came true today. The 25-year-old goalkeeper who spent the past two seasons playing for the Rochester Rhinos signed with Northampton Town Football Club inEngland’s fourth division. The signing is pending international transfer clearance. Kitson, who has spent the past two weeks trying out in England, re-signed with the Rhinos last fall, but had a provision in his contract allowing for a free transfer to a Major League Soccer or European club before Feb. 1.

“It’s an opportunity for me to earn a long contract inEngland,” Kitson said from England via Skype. “These few months are an opportunity for the (Northampton) manager to see if he thinks I’m capable.”

The English season will end by early May, but the Rhinos and new coach Jesse Myers have no interest in bringing Kitson back after the USL PRO League season has started. Rochester opens April 14 atLos Angeles. “This was his goal in life. That’s what Neal wanted, so I wish him the best,” Myers said. “We knew this was a possibility, so I’ve talked to all the goalkeeper coaches I know in MLS, including (D.C. United’s and ex-Rhinos star) Pat Onstad, so I’m sure I can get someone of the same quality, or better. This leaves us with about 150 choices with all the goalies in this country. This will not be difficult.”

Myers is scheduled to leave Friday for the USL Combine in Tampa. Kitson said he’ll be a backup keeper at Northampton, which has 18 matches left. He thanked the Rhinos and their fans for their support. He was the full-time starter all of last year, a second-team all-league pick and Goalie of the Year finalist. His 12 wins tied for tops in the league and his nine shutouts were tied for second. The former St. John’s University star went 21-13-5 with 16 shutouts for the Rhinos. “I’ve always wanted to try to go to the highest level and the last two years definitely helped my chances,” Kitson said. “(Former Rhinos coach) Bob Lilley brought a lot of good out of me, and I met some great guys in Rochester that are among my best friends

Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo